P
US6901890B2ExpiredUtilityPatentIndex 74

Vehicle structure

Assignee: NISSAN MOTORPriority: Dec 27, 2000Filed: Dec 17, 2001Granted: Jun 7, 2005
Est. expiryDec 27, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:SATO EIICHI
F02B 65/00F01P 2050/30F02M 35/10268F02M 35/161F02M 35/116F02B 75/22F02M 35/112F01P 1/06F02M 35/10249
74
PatentIndex Score
8
Cited by
14
References
21
Claims

Abstract

An electrical unit mounting structure is provided to dispose an electrical unit that emits a large amount of heat such that cooling performance is ensured. In one embodiment, an injector drive unit (IDU) 7 is mounted to an upper wall of a collector 6 , which is disposed on an uppermost part of the engine 1 between the banks. The injector drive unit 7 is equipped with the cooling fins 7 b on the lower surface thereof and is cooled with good efficiency by cooling air flowing in the longitudinal direction between the engine cover 10 and the collector 6 . The electrical unit mounting structure can be used in a variety of engine arrangements such as a longitudinally arranged V-type engine, a transversely arranged V-type engine, a longitudinally arranged inline engine, or a transversely arranged inline engine.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. A vehicle structure comprising:
 an electrical unit of a vehicle;  
 an air induction component of an engine configured to be located inside an engine compartment of the vehicle; and  
 a mounting structure configured and arranged to mount the electrical unit to the air induction component such that an air space is formed between the electrical unit and the air induction component,  
 the electrical unit comprising a plurality of cooling fins mounted to a wall surface of the electrical unit that faces the air induction component.  
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrical unit is attached to a rear portion of the air induction component to be located in a rearward end of the engine compartment.  
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the air induction component configured to be mounted on an upper end portion of the engine, the engine being configured to be longitudinal arranged in the engine compartment relative to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the engine is a V-type engine with the air induction component being located in between a pair of laterally spaced cylinder heads.  
 
     
     
       5. A vehicle structure comprising:
 an electrical unit of a vehicle;  
 an air induction component of an engine configured to be located inside an engine compartment of the vehicle;  
 a mounting structure configured and arranged to mount the electrical unit to the air induction component; and  
 the electrical unit comprising a plurality of cooling fins mounted to a wall surface of the electrical unit that faces the air induction component,  
 the mounting structure retaining the electrical unit above the air induction component to form an air space between the cooling fins and the air induction component.  
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 5 , wherein
 the mounting structure comprises a mounting boss having a predetermined height located between the electrical unit and the air induction component to form the air space with a corresponding predetermined height.  
 
     
     
       7. A vehicle structure comprising:
 an electrical unit of a vehicle;  
 an air induction component of an engine configured to be located inside an engine compartment of the vehicle; and  
 a mounting structure configured and arranged to mount the electrical unit to the air induction component;  
 the electrical unit comprising a plurality of cooling fins mounted to a wall surface of the electrical unit that faces the air induction component,  
 the mounting structure comprising a front mounting boss fixedly coupled between a front portion of the electrical unit and a top surface of the air induction component, and a rear mounting bracket fixedly coupled between a rear portion of the electrical unit and a rear flange located on a side surface of the air induction component.  
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the cooling fins is configured and arranged to be parallel a flow of cooling air inside the engine compartment.  
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cooling fins are formed as an integral part of the electrical unit.  
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the air induction component is an air intake collector.  
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 10 , wherein
 the air intake collector is disposed on an uppermost part of an engine and the electrical unit is fastened to an upper wall of the air intake collector so that the electrical unit is disposed between the air intake collector and either one of an engine cover and a hood cover.  
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 10 , wherein
 the electrical unit is fastened to the air induction component at one end of a row of engine cylinders.  
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrical unit is a drive unit that drives an electronic component.  
 
     
     
       14. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 13 , wherein
 the electronic component is a fuel injection valve.  
 
     
     
       15. A method of installing a vehicle structure, comprising:
 mounting an air induction component on an engine located inside an engine compartment of a vehicle;  
 mounting an electrical unit to the air induction component such that an air space is formed between the electrical unit and the air induction component to cool the electrical unit; and  
 providing a plurality of cooling fins on a wall surface of the electrical unit that faces the air induction component.  
 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 15 , comprising
 attaching the electrical unit to a rear portion of the air induction component so as to be located in a rearward end of the engine compartment.  
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising
 fastening the electrical unit an upper wall of the air induction component, which is disposed on an uppermost part of an engine so that the electrical unit is disposed between the air intake collector and an engine cover or a hood cover.  
 
     
     
       18. A vehicle structure comprising:
 an electrical unit of a vehicle;  
 an air induction component of an engine configured to be located inside an engine compartment of the vehicle;  
 a mounting structure configured and arranged to mount the electrical unit to the air induction component; and  
 a plurality of cooling fins disposed between the electrical unit and an outer surface of the air induction component.  
 
     
     
       19. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 18 , wherein
 the mounting structure retains the electrical unit above the air induction component to form an air space between the cooling fins and the air induction component.  
 
     
     
       20. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 18 , wherein
 each of the cooling fins is configured and arranged to be parallel a flow of cooling air inside the engine compartment.  
 
     
     
       21. The vehicle structure as recited in  claim 18 , wherein
 the cooling fins are formed as an integral part of the electrical unit.

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